Display apparatus and controlling methods thereof

ABSTRACT

A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes a display unit which outputs a plurality of content views using a plurality of image frames; an interface unit which is connected with a glasses apparatus according to a predetermined communication standard; a synchronization signal generator which generates a synchronization signal that synchronizes one of the plurality of content views with the glasses apparatus; and a controller which, when a glasses apparatus is connected, controls the display apparatus to synchronize the one of the plurality of content views with the glasses.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No.10-2011-0146163, filed Dec. 29, 2011 in the Korean Intellectual PropertyOffice, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0114464, filed Oct.15, 2012 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entiredisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments relate toa display apparatus and controlling methods thereof. More particularly,apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments relate toa display apparatus for providing different contents to a plurality ofusers and controlling methods thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

In accordance with advance of digital technologies, various electronicproducts are developed and supplied. Particularly, display devices suchas televisions (TVs), mobile phones, personal computers (PCs), notebookPCs, tablet devices, smart devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs),etc., are widely used in many households.

As the use of display devices is increasing, user needs for more variousoperations also increase. Hence, manufacturers have exerted more effortsto meet those user needs and release products with totally newoperations such as three-dimensional (3D) content provisions.

Recently, efforts have been made to develop a display apparatus forproviding a plurality of contents at the same time so that a pluralityof users can watch different contents. Using such a display apparatuswith this operation, users who are not familiar with manipulations forcontrolling this display apparatus cannot know a current situation ofthe content and a manipulation for a particular situation.

When the plurality of the users views the plurality of the contents, acontrol command applied to each content and a common control command canexist. When the users are not aware of the respective commands, thecontrol command of a certain user can interrupt the content view ofanother user.

Hence, there is a need to obtain the status and the operating method ofthe display apparatus easily and intuitively. There is also a need for amethod for controlling the content viewed by the plurality of the usersusing a single remote control apparatus.

SUMMARY

Aspects of one or more exemplary embodiments solve the above-mentionedand/or other problems and disadvantages and provide a display apparatuswhich provides different contents to a plurality of users, and moreparticularly, a display apparatus which effectively controls a pluralityof glasses apparatuses connected to the display apparatus and whichnotifies the users of information on particular situations, and acontrolling method thereof.

According to an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a displayapparatus which includes a display unit which outputs a plurality ofcontent views using a plurality of image frames; an interface unit whichis connected with a glasses apparatus according to a predeterminedcommunication standard; a synchronization signal generator whichgenerates a synchronization signal which synchronizes one of theplurality of content views with the glasses apparatus; and a controllerwhich, when a glasses apparatus is connected to the interface unit,controls the display apparatus to synchronize the one of the pluralityof content views with the glasses apparatus.

The display apparatus may further comprising a receiver which receives aplurality of contents; and a signal processor which processes each ofthe plurality of contents and forms a plurality of image frames.

Herein, the controller may control the display apparatus to synchronizethe glasses apparatus with a content view not synchronized with anyglasses apparatus of among the plurality of content views, when theglasses apparatus is connected to the interface unit.

Furthermore, the controller may control the display apparatus to displayan object which indicates that a content view is not synchronized withany glasses apparatus to the glasses apparatus, when it is determinedthat there exists a content view not synchronized with a glassesapparatus of among the plurality of content views.

In addition, the plurality of content views may include a main contentview and at least one sub content view, and the controller may controlthe display apparatus to synchronize the glasses apparatus to the maincontent view, when the glasses apparatus is connected to the interfaceunit.

In addition, the controller may sequentially synchronize the glassesapparatus with each of the plurality of content views, and when acontent view selection command is received from the glasses apparatus,the controller may control the display apparatus to continuouslysynchronize the glasses apparatus with a content view, synchronized withthe glasses apparatus at a point when the selection command is received,from among the plurality of content views

Meanwhile, according to an exemplary embodiment, there is provided acontrolling method of a display apparatus, the method includingoutputting a plurality of content views using a plurality of imageframes; generating, when a glasses apparatus is connected to the displayapparatus, a synchronization signal which synchronizes one of theplurality of content views with the glasses apparatus; and transmittingthe synchronization signal to the glasses apparatus.

The controlling method of the display apparatus may further comprisesreceiving a plurality of contents; and processing each of the pluralityof contents and forming a plurality of image frames.

Herein, the generating a synchronization signal may generate asynchronization signal which synchronizes the glasses apparatus with acontent view not synchronized with any glasses apparatus of among theplurality of content views, when the glasses apparatus is connected tothe display apparatus.

In addition, the controlling method may further include displaying anobject which indicates that a content view is not synchronized with anyglasses apparatus to the glasses apparatus, when it is determined thatthere exists a content view not synchronized with a glasses apparatus ofamong the plurality of content views.

In addition, the plurality of content views may include a main contentview and at least one sub content view, and the generating thesynchronization signal may generate a synchronization signal whichsynchronizes the glasses apparatus with the main content view, when theglasses apparatus is connected to the display apparatus.

In addition, the generating a synchronization signal may further includegenerating a synchronization signal which sequentially synchronizes theglasses apparatus to each of the plurality of content views and when acontent view selection command is received from the glasses apparatus,continuously synchronizing the glasses apparatus with a content viewsynchronized at a point when the selection command is received, fromamong the plurality of content views.

According to an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a displayapparatus, the display apparatus including: an interface which sends andreceives information with a glasses apparatus according to apredetermined communication standard; a synchronization signal generatorwhich generates a synchronization signal that synchronizes one of aplurality of content views with the glasses apparatus; and a controllerwhich, when a glasses apparatus is connected to the interface, controlsthe display apparatus to synchronize one of the plurality of contentviews with the glasses apparatus.

The controller may control the display apparatus to synchronize theglasses apparatus with a content view, that is not synchronized withanother glasses apparatus, from among the plurality of content views.

The controller may control the display apparatus to sequentiallysynchronize each of the plurality of content views with the glassesapparatus, and when a content view selection command is received fromthe glasses apparatus while the glasses apparatus is synchronized withone of the plurality of content views, control the display apparatus tocontinuously synchronize the one of the plurality of content views withthe glasses apparatus.

According to an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a controllingmethod of a display apparatus, the method including: connecting aglasses apparatus to the display apparatus; generating a synchronizationsignal which synchronizes one of a plurality of content views with theglasses apparatus; and transmitting the synchronization signal to theglasses apparatus.

The generating a synchronization signal may include generating asynchronization signal which synchronizes the glasses apparatus with acontent view, that is not synchronized with another glasses apparatus,from among the plurality of content views.

The generating the synchronization signal may include sequentiallysynchronizing each of the plurality of content views with the glassesapparatus, and when a content view selection command is received fromthe glasses apparatus while the glasses apparatus is synchronized withone of the plurality of content views, continuously synchronizing theone of the plurality of content views with the glasses apparatus.

According to the aforementioned various exemplary embodiments, aplurality of users may each view different content in one displayapparatus, and may intuitively know a state and operating method of thedisplay apparatus. In addition, the aforementioned exemplary embodimentseffectively control a glasses apparatus connected to a displayapparatus, thereby providing a convenient using environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and advantages will become apparent and morereadily appreciated from the following description of exemplaryembodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings ofwhich:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a display system according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a display apparatus according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a signal processor according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a display apparatus according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a display apparatus according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a glasses apparatus according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a diagram of influence of a control command, received from aremote control apparatus, on another content view;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a display apparatus according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a message object displayed to guide a connectionto a glasses apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams of a message object displayed to inquireabout whether to synchronize with content according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams of an image object indicating controlauthority according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a diagram of a message object notifying multi-view endaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a remote control apparatus according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a glasses apparatus according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a controlling method of a display apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a controlling method of a display apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a controlling method of a display apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of a controlling method of a display apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining a controlling method of a remotecontrol apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 20 is a diagram of a situation of viewing content with a glassesapparatus having a polarization lens according to an exemplaryembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments, examplesof which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. Exemplaryembodiments are described below with reference to the figures.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a display system according to an exemplaryembodiment.

The display system of FIG. 1 includes a display apparatus 100, glassesapparatuses 200, and a remote control apparatus 300.

The display apparatus 100 receives and alternately displays a pluralityof contents through a plurality of content views. The display apparatus100 generates synchronization signals corresponding to the respectivecontent views and sends one of the generated synchronization signals toeach of the glasses apparatuses 200-1 and 200-2.

The glasses apparatuses 200-1 and 200-2 receive the respectivesynchronization signals from the display apparatus 100 and open shutterglasses according to the received respective synchronization signal.Hence, a viewer wearing the glasses apparatus 200-1 can watch aparticular content, among the plurality of the content, displayed in thecontent view synchronized (mapped) with the glasses apparatus 200-1. Theglasses apparatuses 200-1 and 200-2 may also each include an inputbutton 240-1 or 240-2, respectively. The input buttons 240-1 or 240-2may be used to control the content, the display apparatus 100, therespective glasses apparatus 200-1 or 200-2, and/or the remote controlapparatus 300. In an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, the inputbuttons 240-1 and 240-2 may be used to change the content view of theirrespective glasses apparatus.

The remote control apparatus 300 receives and sends, to the displayapparatus 100, a user command for controlling the display apparatus 100.The remote control apparatus 300 detects the closest one of the glassesapparatuses 200-1 and 200-2, and sends a control command to control thecontent view synchronized with the corresponding glasses apparatus.Alternatively, the display apparatus may be linked to one of the glassesapparatuses 200-1 and 200-2 by a setting or user command input into theremote control apparatus, the display apparatus 100, and/or one of theglasses apparatuses 200-1 and 200-2.

Herein, when image frames of the content are alternately arranged anddisplayed, the content view indicates a set of image frames of onecontent viewable by the user wearing one of the glasses apparatuses200-1 and 200-2. However, the content view is different from thecontent. For example, when the viewer wearing the glasses apparatus200-1 synchronized with a particular content view 1 changes a TV channelwhile watching a content A or watches a content C by playing other DVDcontent, the content is changed from A to C but the content view 1 isnot changed. That is, the content view 1 is a super ordinate concept ofthe content and contents A and C are similar to channels for contentview 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the display apparatus 100 alternately displays firstcontent and second content through the plurality of the content views.The first glasses apparatus 200-1 receives the synchronization signalcorresponding to the first content view and opens the shutter glasseswhen the first content is displayed, and the viewer wearing the firstglasses apparatus 200-1 can watch the first content. The second glassesapparatus 200-2 receives the synchronization signal corresponding to thesecond content view and opens the shutter glasses when the secondcontent is displayed, and the viewer wearing the second glassesapparatus 200-2 can watch the second content.

While the display apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 displays two separate contentsand is connected with two glasses apparatuses 200-1 and 200-2corresponding to the two content views, it is understood that one ormore other exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto. For example,according to one or more other exemplary embodiments, the displayapparatus 100 can display three or more content through three or morecontent views and be connected with three or more glasses apparatuses.

The display apparatus 100 can communicate with the glasses apparatus 200and the remote control apparatus 300 using various wirelesscommunication technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Infrared DataAssociation (IRDA), Radio Frequency (RF), IEEE 802.11, WLAN, HR WPAN,UWB, LR WPAN, and IEEE 1394.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a display apparatus 100 according to anexemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2, the display apparatus 100 includes at least onereceiver (e.g., a plurality of receivers 110-1 through 110-n), aplurality of signal processors 120-1 through 120-n, a display unit 130(e.g., a display), and a controller 140. The display apparatus 100 canbe implemented using various devices including a display unit, such asTV, mobile phone, PDA, notebook PC, monitor, tablet PC, e-book, digitalframe, kiosk, smart device, etc.

The at least one receiver (e.g., plurality of receivers 110-1 through110-n) receives a plurality of different content. For example, theplurality of receivers 110-1 through 110-n each receive a broadcastingprogram content from a broadcasting station using a broadcastingnetwork, or receive a content file from a web server using the Internet.The receivers 110-1 through 110-n may receive the content from variousrecording medium players which are embedded in or connected to thedisplay apparatus 100. The recording medium player indicates a devicewhich reproduces the content stored in various recording media such asCDs, DVDs, hard disc, Blu-ray discs, memory cards, USB memory, etc.

When the content is received from the broadcasting station, thereceivers 110-1 through 110-n can include a tuner (not shown), ademodulator (not shown), and an equalizer (not shown). By contrast, whenthe content is received from a source such as web server, the receivers110-1 through 110-n can be realized as a network interface card (notshown). When the content are received from various recording mediumplayers, the receivers 110-1 through 110-n can be realized as aninterface unit (e.g., an interface, input, etc.) (not shown) connectedto the recording medium player. As such, the receivers 110-1 through110-n can be implemented in various fashions.

Furthermore, it is understood that the receivers 110-1 through 110-n donot necessarily receive the content from sources of the same type, andmay receive the content from sources of different types. For example,the first receiver 110-1 may include a tuner, a demodulator, and anequalizer, and the second receiver 110-2 may include a network interfacecard.

In addition, it is explained in FIG. 2 that the display apparatus 100includes a plurality of receivers, but a display apparatus 100 mayinclude only one receiver instead, depending on exemplary embodiments.That is, one receiver may receive a plurality of contents. The signalprocessors 120-1 through 120-n can generate image frames by processingthe content received by the receivers 110-1 through 110-n. The signalprocessor 120 is explained in more detail by referring to FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a signal processor 120 according to anexemplary embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first signal processor 120-1 includes a firstvideo processor 121-1 and a frame rate converter 122-1. While the firstsignal processor 120-1 alone is shown in FIG. 3, the same or similarstructure of FIG. 3 can be applied to the other signal processors 120-2through 120-n.

The first video processor 121-1 processes video data in the contentreceived from the first receiver 110-1. In detail, the first videoprocessor 121-1 can include a decoder (not shown) for decoding the videodata, and a scaler (not shown) for scaling up or down the video dataaccording to a screen size of the display unit 130.

Furthermore, the first video processor 121-1 may convert the video datainto a data format corresponding to the first frame rate converter122-1. For example, when the input video data is in a top-to-bottomformat and the first frame rate converter 122-1 processes the frame in aside-by-side format, the first video processor 121-1 can convert theimage frames of the content into the side-by-side format by arrangingthe image frames side-by-side in the horizontal direction.

The first frame rate converter 122-1 converts a frame rate of thecontent output from the first video processor 121-1 to an output rate ofthe display apparatus 100. For example, when the display apparatus 100operates at 60 Hz in a single-view mode, the first frame rate converter122-1 can convert the frame rate of each content to 60 Hz as in theframe rate of the single-view mode. As for n-ary (e.g., secondary whenn=2) content views in a multi-view mode, the display apparatus 100 mayoperate at the output rate of n*60 Hz. The display apparatus may operateeach single-view mode at frequencies other than 60 Hz.

Meanwhile, it is explained in FIG. 2 that the display apparatus includesa plurality of signal processors, but a display apparatus may includeonly one signal processor instead. That is, one signal processor mayprocess a plurality of contents.

The display unit 130 alternately arranges and displays the image framesof the content generated by the signal processors 120-1 through 120-n.In detail, the display unit 130 multiplexes to alternately arrange anddisplay the image frames of the content output from the signalprocessors 120-1 through 120-n so that the frames are arranged at leastone-by-one. In some cases, the display unit 130 may scale up or down theimage frame of the content according to the screen size.

For example, in the display apparatus of a shutter glasses type, thedisplay unit 130 alternately arranges and displays the image frame ofthe first content, the image frame of the second content, . . . , andthe image frame of the n-th content at least one-by-one. The user canwatch his/her intended content by wearing the glasses apparatus 200which interworks at the display timing of the content of the displayunit 130. In detail, the glasses apparatus 200 includes a left-eyeshutter glass and a right-eye shutter glass. The left-eye shutter glassand the right-eye shutter glass are alternately opened and closed in the3D content view. Alternatively, when at least one image frame isalternately arranged and displayed, the left-eye shutter glass and theright-eye shutter glass are opened and closed together according to theoutput timing of the content synchronized with the glasses apparatus200. Hence, the user can watch the content separately from other users.

As such, the mode for alternately arranging and outputting the imageframes of the content can be referred to as a multi-view mode (or adual-view mode). In a normal mode (or a single-view mode) for displayingeither the two-dimensional (2D) content or the 3D content, the displayapparatus 100 can process the content by activating only one of thereceivers 110-1 through 110-n. When the user selects the multi-view modein the normal mode, the display apparatus 100 can process the data byactivating one or more other receivers 110-1 through 110-n.

Meanwhile, the content can be the 2D content or the 3D content. The 3Dcontent allows the user to feel the depth using a plurality of imagesrepresenting the same object from different point of views.

When the plurality of the 3D content is used, the display unit 130 canmultiplex the left-eye images and the right-eye images of the 3D contentprovided from the plurality of frame rate converters 122-1 through 122-nbased on a preset arrangement, and alternately arrange them with theimage frames of the other content.

Hence, the left image and the right image of the first content, the leftimage and the right image of the second content, . . . , and the leftimage and the right image of the n-th content are sequentially arrangedand displayed. The user perceives the left image and the right image ofone of the content through the glasses apparatus 200.

The controller 140 controls the operations of the display apparatus 100.In detail, the controller 140 controls the receivers 110-1 through110-n, the signal processors 120-1 through 120-n, and the display unit130 to perform their corresponding operations.

When a predefined event occurs, the controller 140 can control thesignal processors 120-1 through 120-n and the display unit 130 tooperate according to the event.

Herein, the predefined event can include an event for receiving acontrol command to control one of the content views from the remotecontrol apparatus 300, an event in which at least one content view isnot synchronized with the glasses apparatus 200, an event for inputtinga multi-view mode start command, an event for inputting a controlauthority request command from the remote control apparatus 300, anevent for inputting a multi-view mode end command, etc.

The detailed operations of the controller 140 according to thepredefined event will be explained below.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a display apparatus 100 according to anexemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, the display apparatus 100 includes a plurality ofreceivers 110-1 through 110-n, a plurality of signal processors 120-1through 120-n, a display unit 130, and a controller 140, asynchronization signal generator 150, and an interface unit 160. Herein,the controller 140 can control the synchronization signal generator 150and the interface unit 160 to perform their corresponding operations.

The synchronization signal generator 150 generates a synchronizationsignal for synchronizing the glasses apparatus 200 to a correspondingcontent, according to a display timing of the content. That is, thesynchronization signal generator 150 generates the synchronizationsignal for opening the shutter glasses of the glasses apparatus 200 atthe display timing of the image frame of the content in the multi-viewmode.

The interface unit 160 communicates with the glasses apparatus 200. Inso doing, the interface unit 160 can send the synchronization signal tothe glasses apparatus 200 and receive a selection command from theglasses apparatus 200 by communicating with the glasses apparatus 200according to any of various wireless schemes.

For example, the interface unit 160 can include a Bluetoothcommunication module for communicating with the glasses apparatus 200,generate the synchronization signal as a transport stream according tothe Bluetooth communication standard, and send the transport stream tothe glasses apparatus 200.

The transport stream transported from the interface unit 160 to theglasses apparatus 100 includes offset time information foropening/closing the shutter glass of the glasses apparatus insynchronization with a reference time and display timing of content.More specifically, the time information may include information on atleast one of a left shutter open offset, a left shutter close offset, aright shutter open offset, and a right shutter close offset of theglasses apparatus 200.

The offset is delay information from a reference time to the open orclose time of the shutter glass, and may differ according to a framerate of the display apparatus or a number of content views. That is,when the offset passes from the reference time, the glasses apparatus200 opens or closes the left shutter glass and the right shutter glass.

In addition, the reference time can be the time point when a verticalsynchronization signal (that is, frame sync) is generated in the imageframe. The transport stream can include reference time information andalso include information of a clock signal used in the display apparatus100. Thus, the glasses apparatus 200, upon receiving the transportstream, can synchronize its clock signal with the clock signal of thedisplay apparatus 100 and open or close the shutter glasses bydetermining, using the clock signal, whether the offset passes from thevertical synchronization signal point.

Moreover, the transport stream can further include cycle information ofthe frame sync, and decimal point information when the cycle of theframe sync has a decimal point.

Hereinbelow is a specific explanation of a synchronization method of thedisplay apparatus 100 and glasses apparatus 200 according to variousexemplary embodiments.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the synchronization signalgenerator 150 may generate a different synchronization signal for eachof the plurality of content views, in which case the synchronizationsignal generator 150 may generate a synchronization signal having adifferent reference time for each content view or a synchronizationsignal having a same reference time and a different offset time.

When the glasses apparatus 200 and the display apparatus 100 areconnected to each other, the glasses apparatus 200 receives one of theplurality of synchronization signals from the display apparatus 100 andis synchronized with the corresponding content view. Meanwhile, in acase where the user input a command into the glasses apparatus 200 forchanging the content view, the glasses apparatus 200 transmits aselection command for selecting a content view to the display apparatus100. When the display apparatus 100 receives the content view selectioncommand, it may transmit a synchronization signal corresponding to thechanged content view to the glasses apparatus 200, thereby changing thecontent view synchronized with the glasses apparatus 200. For example,the display apparatus may receive a content view selection command fromone of a plurality of glasses apparatus and transmit the synchronizationsignal corresponding to the selected content view to the glassesapparatuses which sends the content view selection command.

According to another aspect of an exemplary embodiment, thesynchronization signal generator 150 may generate only onesynchronization signal which is used as the reference. Herein, this onesynchronization signal which is used as the reference may be asynchronization signal which corresponds to a main content view of amongthe plurality of content views. When the glasses apparatus 200 and thedisplay apparatus 100 are connected to each other, the glasses apparatus200 receives the synchronization signal which becomes the reference fromthe display apparatus 100, and is synchronized with the correspondingcontent view. Herein, in a case where the user input a command forchanging the content view into the glasses apparatus 200, the glassesapparatus 200 may simply change a sync of the synchronization signalwhich becomes the reference, and be synchronized with another contentview.

Meanwhile, the interface unit 160 may conduct pairing based on theBluetooth communication scheme by transmitting and receiving a Bluetoothaddress and a PIN code to and from the glasses apparatus 200.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the interface unit 160 may have aplurality of Bluetooth addresses each of which may be connected to oneglasses apparatus. Herein, a Bluetooth address may be connected to eachglasses apparatus in an ascending or descending order of the order thatthe glasses apparatuses 200 are connected to the interface unit 160. Fora Bluetooth address that is already used to connect with a glassesapparatus 200, the interface unit 160 may set so as to exclude thealready connected Bluetooth address from being connected to anotherglasses apparatus.

When the pairing is completed, information relating to the glassesapparatus 200, for example, identification information of the glassesapparatus 200 or the Bluetooth address used in the pairing can beregistered to the interface unit 160. The interface unit 160 matches theinformation of the glasses apparatus 200 to the transport streamcorresponding to the display timing of the content, and sends thetransport stream to the glasses apparatus 200 based on the informationobtained through the pairing.

When receiving the transport stream, the glasses apparatus 200 candetermine whether the transport stream corresponds to its glassesapparatus information, and open or close the glasses according to thetime information of the transport stream.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the interface unit 160 and theglasses apparatus 200 communicate with each other according to theBluetooth communication scheme by way of example. However, it isunderstood that one or more exemplary embodiments are not limitedthereto. For example, according to one or more other exemplaryembodiments, the interface unit 160 and the glasses apparatus 200 canadopt other communication schemes such as infrared communication andZigbee, and various wireless communication schemes for transmitting andreceiving signals by building a communication channel within a closerange.

It is explained that the interface unit 160 communicates with theplurality of glasses apparatuses by one communication module, butdepending on exemplary embodiments, there may be provided a plurality ofcommunication modules which communicate individually with each glassesapparatus. Otherwise, the interface unit 160 may be embodied as one thatincludes a plurality of communication modules according to each wirelesscommunication method in a case where the display apparatus 100 supportsa plurality of wireless communication methods. For example, theinterface unit 160 may include a plurality of communication modulesaccording to various wireless communication methods such as Bluetooth,Zigbee, and Wifi etc. In this case, each of the glasses apparatuses 200may communicate with the display apparatus using different communicationmodules that are supported by the respective glasses apparatuses.

Although not depicted in FIG. 2, the display apparatus 100 can furtherinclude a component for differently providing audio data of the contentper user in the multi-view mode. That is, the display apparatus 100 canfurther include a demultiplexer (not shown) for separating the videodata and the audio data from the content received at the receivers 110-1through 110-n, an audio decoder (not shown) for decoding the separatedaudio data, a modulator (not shown) for modulating the decoded audiodata to different frequency signals, and an audio output unit (notshown) for sending the modulated audio data to the glasses apparatus200. The audio data output from the audio output unit (not shown) isprovided to the user through an output device such as earphones of theglasses apparatus 200.

Meanwhile, in some cases, when the content includes additionalinformation such as Electronic Program Guide (EPG) and subtitleinformation, the demultiplexer (not shown) may additionally separate theadditional data from the content. The display apparatus 100 may add thesubtitle processed for the display through an additional data processor(not shown), to the corresponding image frame.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a display apparatus 100 according to anexemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5, the display apparatus 100 includes a plurality ofreceivers 110-1 through 110-n, a plurality of signal processors 120-1through 120-n, a display unit 130, a controller 140, and a remotecontrol signal receiver 170.

The remote control signal receiver 170 can receive a control commandfrom the remote control apparatus 300. The controller 140 can controlthe display apparatus 100 according to the control command received fromthe remote control signal receiver 170.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a glasses apparatus 200 according to anexemplary embodiment.

The glasses apparatus 200 of FIG. 6 interworks with the displayapparatus 100 of FIG. 2 which alternately displays the plurality of thecontent on the image frame basis, and includes an interface unit 210, acontroller 220, a shutter glass driving unit 230 (e.g., a shutter glassdriver, etc.), an input unit 240 (e.g., an input, input button, etc.), afirst shutter glass unit 250 (e.g., a first shutter, etc.), and a secondshutter glass unit (e.g., a second shutter, etc.) 260.

The interface unit 210 communicates with the display apparatus 100. Forexample, the interface unit 210 can be implemented using a Bluetoothcommunication module for receiving the synchronization signal andsending the information of the glasses apparatus 200 by communicatingwith the display apparatus 100. The interface unit 210 can send the usercommand (or the control command) input through the input unit 240 to thedisplay apparatus 100.

As stated earlier, the synchronization signal can be received in theform of a transport stream according to the Bluetooth communicationstandard, and can include the time information for opening or closingthe first shutter glass unit 250 and the second shutter glass unit 260of the glasses apparatus 200 in synchronization with the display timingof the content. The information included in the transport stream hasbeen exemplarily described in FIG. 4 and shall not be further explained.

The controller 220 controls the operations of the glasses apparatus 200.In particular, the controller 220 controls the shutter glass drivingunit 230 by forwarding the synchronization signal received by theinterface unit 210 to the shutter glass driving unit 230. That is, basedon the synchronization signal, the controller 220 controls the shutterglass driving unit 230 to generate a driving signal to drive the firstshutter glass unit 250 and the second shutter glass unit 260.

The shutter glass driving unit 230 generates the driving signal based onthe synchronization signal received from the controller 220. Inparticular, based on the synchronization signal, the shutter glassdriving unit 230 can open at least one of the first shutter glass unit250 and the second shutter glass unit 260 according to the displaytiming of one of the content displayed by the display apparatus 100.

The first shutter glass unit 250 and the second shutter glass unit 260open or close the shutter glasses according to the driving signalreceived from the shutter glass driving unit 230. For example, the firstshutter glass unit 250 and the second shutter glass unit 260 open theshutter glasses at the same time when the one of the content that issynchronized with the glasses apparatus is displayed, and close theshutter glasses when a second content not synchronized with the glassesapparatus is displayed. Hence, the user wearing the glasses apparatus200 can view one content from among a plurality of displayed contentwithout viewing a second content.

Further, when viewing 3D content using the glasses apparatus, the firstshutter glass unit 250 and the second shutter glass unit 260 can openand close the glasses in turn. That is, according to the driving signal,the first shutter glass unit 250 can be opened when the left-eye imageof a 3D content is displayed and the second shutter glass unit 260 canbe opened when the right-eye image is displayed.

The input unit 240 receives a user command for controlling the displayapparatus 100. In particular, the input unit 240 can receive a selectioncommand for selecting one of the content views. To this end, the inputunit 240 may have a button, touchpad or toggle button etc. for selectinga content view. In a case where the user input a selection command forselecting one of the plurality of content views into the input unit 240,the user may transmit information on the selected content view to thedisplay apparatus 100, and receive the synchronization signalcorresponding to the selected content view from the display apparatus100. The input unit 240 can receive a response signal for confirming ordenying the user command or the control command to control one of thecontent views.

Hereinafter, operations of the display apparatus 100 corresponding topredefined events are illustrated with examples.

<Event for Receiving the Control Command to Control One of the ContentViews>

FIG. 7 is a diagram of influence of a control command received from aremote control apparatus 300 upon another content view.

When a plurality of viewers wear the glasses apparatuses 200-1 and 200-2synchronized with different content views and one user watching thecontent inputs the user command to control his/her content view, theuser command can affect the user watching the content in the othercontent view. Since the users watch their own content, they cansometimes control the display apparatus 100 without noticing the otherusers' content. For example, when the content viewed through one glassesapparatus 200-1 shows the drama series and the movie of the contentviewed through the other glasses apparatus 200-2 is over as shown inFIG. 7, the user wearing the other glasses apparatus 200-2 may turn offthe display apparatus 100. In this case, the content view of the glassesapparatus 200-1 is affected and, accordingly, it is necessary to informthe other user of the control command input and to seek concurrence ofthe control according to a type of the control command.

According to an exemplary embodiment, upon receiving the control commandto control one of the content views, the controller 140 can selectivelydisplay a message informing of the control command input in the othercontent view according to the type of the control command. As mentionedearlier, when the control command is input to the display apparatus 100from the glasses apparatus 200-1 and 200-2 watching one content view,the control command can affect the other content view. By contrast, acontrol command may not affect the other content view at all and theaffect, if any, can be ignored. Hence, when receiving the controlcommand from the remote control signal receiver 170, according to thetype of the control command, the controller 140 controls to providenotice of the control command input through the other content view orperforms the control operation when there is no need to provide notice.

The control command is divided to an executable operation and anexecution restriction operation, based on the influence on the othercontent view. When there is no influence on the other content view, thecontrol command is defined as the executable operation in either case.By contrast, when the other content view is affected, the execution canchange according to the agreement or the disagreement of the other useror other conditions. Hence, the control command is defined as theexecution restriction operation.

The executable operation indicates the control command when the othercontent view is not affected as aforementioned. The control command forthe executable operation can include a content change command forchanging the content of the selected content view, a volume controlcommand for adjusting an audio signal volume of the content, anon-screen display (OSD) menu display command for displaying an OSD menuon the selected content view, and an image quality adjustment controlfor adjusting the quality of the image frame displayed in the selectedcontent view.

For example, when a volume control signal is input from one glassesapparatus 200 and the volume of the corresponding glasses apparatus 200is controlled, the other content view is not affected at all. Hence,this volume control operation corresponds to the executable operation.Yet, since the control command for controlling an output volume (mastervolume) of the display apparatus 100 can affect the other content view,such a control command is the execution restriction operation. Forexample, as for the content change operation, various content can beviewed through the single content view. Hence, the content change in onecontent view does not affect the other content views.

The execution restriction operation indicates the control command whenthe other content view is affected. For example, the executionrestriction operation includes a power on/off control operation and anoutput characteristic control operation of the display apparatus 100.That is, the user watching one content view may turn off the displayapparatus 100. In this case, the user can no longer watch the othercontent view and accordingly the power off control operation correspondsto the execution restriction operation. Further, the outputcharacteristic control operation indicates the control command ofdependency of the display apparatus 100. For example, screen brightnesscan be adjusted or the reception manner can be changed.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a display apparatus 100 according to anexemplary embodiment.

The display apparatus 100 of FIG. 8 distinguishes the executableoperation and the execution restriction operation, and can furtherinclude a storage unit 180 for storing control operation informationdivided to the executable operation and the execution restrictionoperation.

When receiving the control command from the remote control signalreceiver 170, the controller 140 can determine whether the receivedcontrol command is the executable operation or the execution restrictionoperation by comparing the received control command with the controloperation information stored to the storage unit 180.

When the control command pertains to the executable operation, thecontroller 140 performs the control operation corresponding to thecontrol command for the content view. That is, for the control commandto control the volume of the content view, the controller 140 sends thevolume control signal without providing notice in the other contentview. By contrast, when the control command pertains to the executionrestriction operation, the controller 140 controls the signal processor120 and the display unit 130 to display the message notifying thecontrol command input in the other content view. For example, the signalprocessor 120 converts the message relating to the control command toimage data and mixes the image data with the image frame of the othercontent view. The display unit 130 outputs the mixed image frame in theother content view. For example, when the power off control signal isinput through one content view, a message, “User of the channel No. 1wants to turn off the display,” can be displayed in the other contentview.

At this time, the user watching the other content view can send theresponse signal for agreeing or disagreeing with the control command tothe display apparatus 100. For example, the glasses apparatus 200 canreceive the signal for agreeing or disagreeing with the control commandfrom the user through the input unit 240 and forward the signal to thedisplay apparatus 100 through the interface unit 210. The user may sendthe signal through the remote control apparatus 300, or directly inputthe signal through an input unit (not shown) of the display apparatus100. In case of the signal input through the input unit 240 of theglasses apparatus 200, when the response signal agreeing with thecontrol command is received from the other glasses apparatus 200 matchedto the other content view, the controller 140 executes the controloperation corresponding to the control command. When the response signaldisagreeing with the control command is received, the controller 140does not execute the control operation corresponding to the controlcommand. That is, when an input to turn the display apparatus 100 off isreceived, the controller 140 displays a message, “User of the channelNo. 1 wants to turn off the display. Do you agree to it?” in the othercontent view. When the response signal agreeing with the power off isreceived from the interface unit 210 of the other glasses apparatus 200matched to the other content view, the controller 140 turns off thedisplay apparatus 100.

Meanwhile, after a predetermined period of time passes and the displayapparatus 100 does not receive a response signal, priority can begranted to the content view of the control command input and the controloperation corresponding to the control command can be performed. Thatis, when receiving no response signal of the control command from theother glasses apparatus 200 matched to the other content view over apreset time starting from the message output time, the controller 140can execute the control operation corresponding to the control command.However, the priority can be granted to the other content view byconsidering the influence on the other content view, and thus thedisagreement response signal reception may be determined. In this case,no control operation corresponding to the control command is performed.When the control commands are differentiated and no response signal isreceived, the control operation corresponding to the control command maybe executed by determining the disagreement response signal receptionwith the great influence on the other content view and determining theagreement signal reception with little influence.

In another aspect of an exemplary embodiment, a user of the firstcontent view may be notified that the control command affects the seconduser of the second content view or a plurality of other users watching aplurality of other content views. The user of the first content view maythen be asked to whether the user wants to proceed with the controlcommand and the user may confirm or decline proceeding with the controlcommand. Additionally, in another aspect of an exemplary embodiment, theuser of the first content view may only confirm proceeding with thecontrol command if the glasses apparatus synchronized with the firstcontent view has priority over the glasses apparatus synchronized withthe second content view.

Accordingly, the execution of the control operation can differ accordingto the influence of the control command input in one of the contentviews upon the other content view. Particularly, a more stabilizedmulti-view display is accomplished by notifying the great influence onthe other content view through the other content view and obtaining theagreement on the execution.

<Event when at Least One of the Content Views is not Synchronized withthe Glasses Apparatus>

When detecting that content is not connected to a glasses apparatus 200,the controller 140 controls to add and display a message object guidinga connection of the glasses apparatus 200, in the content view notmapped to the glasses apparatus 200, which is explained below withreference to FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a message object displayed to guide to connect aglasses apparatuses 200 according to an exemplary embodiment.

The glasses apparatuses 200-1 and 200-2 communicate with the displayapparatus 100 using their own identification information. When theglasses apparatuses 200-1 and 200-2 are paired with the displayapparatus 100, the identification information of the glasses apparatuses200-1 and 200-2 are transmitted to the display apparatus 100. Accordingto an exemplary embodiment, the Bluetooth address of the interface unit160 used in the connection with the glasses apparatuses 200-1 and 200-2may be used as information for identifying the glasses apparatus.According to the identification information received from the glassesapparatuses 200-1 and 200-2 or the Bluetooth address, the interface unit160 of the display apparatus 100 transmits any one of thesynchronization signals corresponding to the content views to theglasses apparatuses 200-1 and 200-2. In so doing, the mapping ofinformation between the content views and the glasses apparatuses 200-1and 200-2 can be generated or stored.

Herein, the interface unit 160 of the display apparatus 100 can checkthe mapping information indicating the mapping between the content andthe glasses apparatuses 200-1 and 200-2 under the control of thecontroller 140, and determine whether the content includes content notmapped to the glasses apparatuses 200-1 and 200-2.

Upon detecting the content not synchronized with the glasses apparatuses200-1 and 200-2, the signal processor 120, among the plurality of thesignal processors 120-1 through 120-n, for processing the content notsynchronized with the glasses apparatus 200 can add the message objectguiding a connection of the glasses apparatus 200, to the image frame ofthe corresponding content, and the display unit 130 can alternatelydisplay the image frame of the added message object with the image frameof the other content.

When a new glasses apparatus 200 is connected, the controller 140 cancontrol to automatically synchronize the new glasses apparatus 200 withthe content view not synchronized with the glasses apparatuses 200-1 and200-2. When the corresponding content view is mapped to at least oneglasses apparatus 200 according to the message object guiding theconnection of the glasses apparatus 200, the controller 140 may controlto make the message object displayed in the corresponding content viewdisappear.

Referring to FIG. 9, the display apparatus 100 displays the secondcontent, and the glasses apparatuses 200-1 and 200-2 are synchronizedwith the first content view and the third content view respectively.When the second content is displayed, all of the shutter glasses of theglasses apparatuses 200-1 and 200-2 are closed. Since there are noglasses synchronized with the second content view, the display apparatus100 can add and display a message object “Please connect the glasses.”guiding to connect the second content view and the glasses apparatus200.

Meanwhile, the viewers wearing the glasses apparatuses 200-1 and 200-2and watching the first and third content cannot see the message objectdisplayed in the second content, whereas the viewer watching the displayscreen without the glasses apparatus can see the display screen of thesuperimposed content images and see the message object added to thesecond content and superimposed on the other content images. Thus, theviewer watching the display screen without the glasses apparatus 200 canascertain that part of the current content views are displayed withoutthe synchronization with the glasses apparatuses 200-1 and 200-2.

Herein, when a new glasses apparatus 200 is connected to the displayapparatus 100, the new glasses apparatus 200 can be automatically mappedto the second content view which is not mapped to the existing glassesapparatuses 200-1 and 200-2.

The message object guiding the connection of the glasses apparatus 200can employ not only the message object of FIG. 9 but also any objectproviding notice that no mapping exists of the corresponding contentwith the glasses 200. For example, the message object can include amessage notifying no mapping, such as, “The glasses are not connected,”or a message providing the details of the glasses connection.

Thus, the user can intuitively perceive that the particular content isnot currently connected to the glasses apparatus 200 withoutinterrupting the viewer watching the content in the multi-view mode, andthe content not connected to the glasses apparatus 200 can be mapped tothe new glasses apparatus more easily.

<Event for Inputting the Multi-View Mode Start Command>

When the predefined event is an event for inputting a multi-view modestart command and the multi-view mode start command is input, thecontroller 140 can control to display the message object inquiring aboutwhether to synchronize the corresponding content view in the image frameof each content view, and to sequentially map the content to the glassesapparatuses 200-1 and 200-2, which is described below with reference toFIGS. 10A and 10B.

FIGS. 10A and 10B depict a message object displayed to inquire aboutwhether to synchronize with the content according to an exemplaryembodiment.

When the user inputs the multi-view mode start command, the displayapparatus 100 alternately displays the plurality of the content byinitiating the multi-view mode. Herein, the signal processors 120-1through 120-n can add the message object inquiring about whether to mapthe corresponding content in the image frame of each content, and thedisplay unit 130 can alternately display the image frames of the addedobject.

The interface unit 160 sequentially displays and maps the content viewsto glasses apparatuses 200-3, 200-4, and 200-5 connected to the displayapparatus 100. Herein, one content view is mapped and/or displayed for apreset time, and when the preset time passes, another content view canbe mapped and/or displayed. This applies to the plurality of the glassesapparatuses 200-3, 200-4, and 200-5 connected to the display apparatus100.

Meanwhile, when receiving the response for the message from at least oneglasses apparatus 200, the interface unit 160 can map the content viewdisplayed at the point of the response reception to the at least oneglasses apparatus which sends the response. The response to the messageindicates a content selection command input through the input unit ofthe glasses apparatuses 200-3, 200-4, and 200-5 or the remote controlapparatus.

Referring to FIG. 10A, the display apparatus 100 alternately displaysfirst, second, and third content, and is currently displaying an imageframe of the first content view. A message object, “Please press thebutton to watch this screen,” is added to the image frame of eachcontent. Meanwhile, all of the glasses apparatuses 200-3, 200-4, and200-5 are mapped to the first content view. When the selection commandfor selecting the first content currently mapped is input through aninput unit 240-3 of the left glasses apparatus 200-3, the left glassesapparatus 200-3 sends the selection command to the display apparatus100. Even when a preset time interval passes, the communicationinterface unit 160 of the display apparatus 100 can keep the mapping ofthe left glasses apparatus 200-3 and the first content.

In FIG. 10B, the glasses apparatuses 200-4 and 200-5 are mapped to thesecond content view after the preset time passes from FIG. 10A. Yet,since the left glasses apparatus 200-3 is continuously mapped to thefirst content view by sending the selection command to the displayapparatus 100 in FIG. 10A, the viewer wearing the left glasses apparatus200-3 can keep watching the first content view. Meanwhile, the messageobject inquiring about the mapping is not added to the image frame ofthe first content view mapped for the preset time. Hence, the viewerselecting the first content can watch the first content without theinterruption of the object when the preset time passes.

When the user inputs the selection command through the input unit 240-4of the glasses apparatus 200-4 mapped to the second content in FIG. 10B,the glasses apparatus 200-4 sends the selection command to the displayapparatus 100 and the communication interface unit 160 of the displayapparatus 100 keeps the mapping of the glasses apparatus 200-4 and thesecond content. Also, when the user inputs the selection command throughthe input unit 240-5 of the glasses apparatus 200-5 mapped to the secondcontent in FIG. 10B, the glasses apparatus 200-5 sends the selectioncommand to the display apparatus 100 and the communication interfaceunit 160 of the display apparatus 100 keeps the mapping of the glassesapparatus 200-5 and the second content.

Accordingly, the user can intuitively perceive the start of themulti-view mode and the input of the selection command to view aspecific content.

The message object inquiring about the mapping with the correspondingcontent is not limited to the message object of FIGS. 10A and 10B in oneor more other exemplary embodiments. That is, according to one or moreother exemplary embodiments, any object that leads to the mapping withthe corresponding content may be used. Additionally, a timer indicatingthe remaining time may be added and displayed in the image frame of thecorresponding content so that the user can obtain the remaining time forinputting the selection command to select the content.

<Event when the Glasses Apparatus is Connected>

In a case where a predefined event is an event where the glassesapparatus is connected, when the glasses apparatus 200 is connected tothe interface unit 160, the controller 140 may control to synchronizeone of the plurality of content views and the glasses apparatus.

According to an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 9, thecontroller 140 may control so that a newly connected glasses apparatusis synchronized with a content view which is not synchronized withanother glasses apparatus of among the plurality of content views.According to another aspect of an exemplary embodiment, in a case wherethe content views may be differentiated as a main content view and atleast one sub content view, the controller 140 may control so that asynchronization is made with the main content view. The main contentview may be the content view remaining even when a conversion has beenmade from a multi view mode into a single view mode. According toanother aspect of an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 10,the controller 140 may control so that, when a glasses apparatus isconnected, it is synchronized with the plurality of content viewssequentially at a predetermined time interval, and when a content viewselection command is received from the glasses apparatus, the controller140 may control so that the glasses apparatus is synchronized with thecontent view synchronized with the glasses apparatus at the point theselection command was received.

<Event when the Remote Control Apparatus Inputs the Control AuthorityRequest Command>

When the predefined event is an event for inputting a control authorityrequest command from the remote control apparatus 300 and the controlauthority request command is input, the controller 140 can control toadd and display an image object indicating the control authority in theimage frame of one of the plurality of the content, which is describedbelow with reference to FIGS. 11A and 11B.

FIGS. 11A and 11B depict an image object indicating a control authorityaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

When the control authority request command is input from the remotecontrol apparatus 300, the image processor for processing the contentdisplayed through the authorized content view among the plurality of thecontent views of the display apparatus 100 can add an image objectindicating the control authority to the image frame of the correspondingcontent.

The controller 140 can control to sequentially change the contentdisplaying the image object every time the control authority requestcommand is input. That is, when the image object is added and displayedin the image frame of any one the content and the control authorityrequest command is input again from the remote control apparatus 300,the image object indicating the control authority is added and displayedin the image frame of any other content. Every time the controlauthority request command is input, the content displaying the imageobject can sequentially change. Hence, the viewer can intuitivelyperceive the authorized content view with ease.

The control authority request command indicates a user command which isinput by the user watching the content through any one of the contentviews to control the corresponding content view. The control authorityrequest command may be input by pressing or touching a particular buttonof the remote control apparatus 300, and a command input to control thedisplay apparatus 100, such as a channel change or a volume controlbutton, can be recognized as the control authority request command.

Referring to FIG. 11A, the control authority request is input from theuser remote control apparatus 300 and a star-shaped image objectindicating the control authority is added and displayed in the imageframe of the second content. The viewer wearing the glasses apparatus200-6 mapped to the second content, who is watching the second content,can perceive the image object indicating the control authority displayedin the display apparatus 100 and control the second content through theremote control apparatus 300. Herein, the control of the second contentmay correspond to the volume control corresponding to the secondcontent, a display environment setup of the second content, or othercontent view by changing to other channel when the second content is abroadcasting program.

Meanwhile, the viewer wearing the glasses apparatus 200-7 mapped to thethird content view can neither perceive the image object nor control thethird content.

Herein, when the user re-inputs the control authority request command,the star-shaped image object indicating the control authority is addedand displayed in the image frame of the third content. In FIG. 11B, thedisplay apparatus 100 displays the third content with the object imageadded and the viewer wearing the glasses apparatus 200-7 can see theimage object added to the third content. The viewer watching the secondcontent can neither perceive the image object nor control the secondcontent view.

When the control authority request command is re-input, the star-shapedimage object is added and displayed in the image frame of the firstcontent and can sequentially change every time the control authorityrequest command is input.

The image object indicating the control authority can employ not onlythe star-shaped image object but also any image or text indicatingcontrol authority that is perceivable by the viewer. One or more otherexemplary embodiments are not limited to the image object but may beapplicable to a message object such as “control” indicative of thecontrol authority. When the control authority request command is notre-input over a preset time, the controller 140 may make the imageobject disappear after the preset time.

The control authority request command may be input through not only theremote control apparatus 300, but also the input unit 240 of the glassesapparatus 200 in one or more other exemplary embodiments. In this case,the image object indicating the control authority can be added anddisplayed in the content view mapped to the glasses apparatus 200 of theinput control authority request command.

<Event for Inputting the Multi-View Mode End Command>

When the predefined event is an event for inputting a multi-view modeend command and the multi-view mode end command is input, the controller140 can control to add and display a message object notifying themulti-view end in the image frames of all of the content, which isdescribed below with reference to FIG. 12.

FIG. 12 depicts a message object notifying a multi-view end according toan exemplary embodiment.

When the multi-view mode end command is input through the remote controlapparatus 300, the display apparatus 100 can add and display a messageobject notifying the multi-view mode end in the image frames of all ofthe displayed content, and terminate the multi-view mode.

Referring to FIG. 12, when the multi-view mode end command is inputthrough the remote control apparatus 300, the display apparatus 100 addsand displays the message object notifying the multi-view mode end suchas, “Exit the multi-view mode,” in the image frames of all of the first,second, and third displayed content. Hence, the viewers wearing glasses200-8 and 200-9 can intuitively learn that the multi-view mode is over.

The multi-view mode end command may be input through not only the remotecontrol apparatus 300, but also the input unit 240 of the glassesapparatus 200 in one or more other exemplary embodiments.

When the multi-view mode is over, only the content displayed before themulti-view mode is displayed and the other content are not displayed anymore. However, it is understood that one or more other exemplaryembodiments are not limited thereto. For example, according to one ormore other exemplary embodiments, only the content of the controlauthority before the multi-view mode is over may be displayed and theother content may not be displayed.

While the object is, but not limited to, the message object and theimage object in the above-described exemplary embodiments, variousobjects such as an icon, a logo, a text label, and a symbol can berepresented in accordance with the predefined event.

The object addition to the image frame in the signal processor 120 canbe carried out by the video processor of the image processor, and theframe rate converter may add the object to the image frame of theconverted frame rate. Also, the additional data processor for processingthe subtitle may add the object. That is, when the content is generatedas the image frames, the object can be added in any phase before thecontent is output to the display unit.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a remote control apparatus 300 accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 13, the remote control apparatus 300 includes adetection unit 310 (e.g., a detector), an input unit 320, a control unit330 (e.g., a controller), and an interface unit 340.

The detection unit 310 receives signals from the plurality of theglasses apparatuses 200 respectively corresponding to the plurality ofthe content views, detects the glasses apparatus 200 closest to theremote control apparatus 300, and sends the detected signal to thecontrol unit 330 of the remote control apparatus 300.

In more detail, the detection unit 310 can detect distances between theglasses apparatuses 200 and the remote control apparatus 300, and detectthe glasses apparatus 200 closest to the remote control apparatus 300from among the glasses apparatuses 200.

In this case, the detection unit 310 can detect the glasses apparatuses200 using a sensing method, such as radio frequency identification(RFID) or magnetic sensor, capable of sensing short distances betweenthe remote control apparatus 300 and the glasses apparatuses 200.

Using the RFID of the detection methods, the detection unit 310 cancompare the reception strength of radio frequency (RF) signals receivedfrom the glasses apparatuses 200, and detect the glasses apparatus 200transmitting the RF signal of the maximum reception strength as theclosest glasses apparatus.

The glasses apparatus 200 can further include a signal output unit 270(see FIG. 14). FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a glasses apparatus 200according to an exemplary embodiment. The signal output unit 270 of theglasses apparatus 200 can include an RFID tag or a componentcorresponding to the distance sensing method of the remote controlapparatus 300. In detail, when the remote control apparatus 300 sensesthe distance to each glasses apparatus using the RFID, the signal outputunit 270 can include the RFID tag.

The input unit 320 of the remote control apparatus 300 receives the usercommand. The input unit 320 can employ various input interfaces, such asa keypad, a touch pad, a jog shuttle, a jog stick, a dial, etc., atleast alone or in combination, for changing the channel or the audiovolume.

When the user selection command is input through the input unit 320, thecontrol unit 330 generates a control signal for controlling the contentview corresponding to the closest glasses apparatus 200 detected fromamong the glasses apparatuses 200, according to the user selectioncommand.

The control signal can include at least one of a glasses apparatus ID,which is the identification information of the closest glasses apparatus200, or the content view information corresponding to the closestglasses apparatus 200

To this end, the remote control apparatus 300 may receive information onthe content view corresponding to the glasses apparatus, from theglasses apparatus. According to an exemplary embodiment, each glassesapparatus may include information on the content view in a signal whichis output for sensing distance, and the controller 330 may generate acontrol signal using information on the content view of the closestglasses apparatus. According to another aspect of an exemplaryembodiment, the controller 330 may request a closest glasses apparatusfor information on the content view and receive the information when theclosest glasses apparatus is determined. Meanwhile, the glassesapparatus 200 and remote control apparatus 300 may transmit/receiveinformation on the content view through the signal output unit 270 andthe detection unit 310 for sensing distance, but an interface unit (notillustrated) may be additionally provided for transmitting/receivinginformation on the content view.

The control command can include, for example, any one of the contentchange command for changing the content of the content viewcorresponding to the glasses apparatus 200 closest to the remote controlapparatus 300, the volume control command for adjusting the audio signalvolume of the content, the OSD menu display command for displaying theOSD menu on the content view, the image quality adjustment control foradjusting the quality of the image frame displayed in the content view,etc.

The interface unit 340 sends the control signal generated by the controlunit 330 to the remote control signal receiver 170 of the displayapparatus 100. The communication between the interface unit 340 and theremote control signal receiver 170 can adopt a communication scheme suchas Bluetooth, infrared communication, and Zigbee, and various wirelesscommunication schemes for transmitting and receiving signals via acommunication channel, e.g., a short range communication channel.

In an exemplary embodiment, a user can selectively control the contentview mapped to the closest glasses apparatus 200 by changing thelocation of the remote control apparatus 300 without having torepeatedly input the user command to selectively control one of thecontent views. Notably, the message or the image object can be added anddisplayed in the content view currently controllable.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a controlling method of a display apparatus100 according to an exemplary embodiment. Redundant descriptionsrelating to the display apparatus 100 shall be omitted here.

The display apparatus 100 receives a plurality of the content (operationS1510). More specifically, the display apparatus 100 receives aplurality of the different content. Next, the display apparatus 100generates the image frames (operation S1520). The display apparatus 100may generate the image frames by processing the received content. Thedisplay apparatus 100 alternately displays the image frames (operationS1530). In particular, the display apparatus 100 generates the pluralityof the content views and alternately displays the image frames of thecontent corresponding to the content views.

Herein, when the predefined event occurs (operation S1540-Y), thedisplay apparatus 100 performs the operation corresponding to the event(operation S1550). The predefined event can include an event forreceiving a control command to control one of the content views from theremote control apparatus 300, an event when at least one of the contentis not synchronized with the glasses apparatus 200, an event forinputting a multi-view mode start command, the event for inputting acontrol authority request command from the remote control apparatus 300,an event for inputting the multi-view mode end command, etc. Ifpredefined event does not occur (operation S1540-N), the displayapparatus continues to alternately display image frames (operationS1530).

The event for receiving the control command from the remote controlapparatus 300 to control one of the content views is explained belowwith reference to FIGS. 16 and 17.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a controlling method of a display apparatus100 according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 16, the receivers 110 of the display apparatus 100receive a plurality of contents (operation S1610), and the signalprocessors 120 generate the image frames by processing the content(operation S1620). The display unit 130 outputs the plurality of thecontent views by combining the image frames of the content (operationS1630), and the synchronization signal generator 150 generates thesynchronization signals to synchronize the content views and the glassesapparatuses 200 (operation S1640). The interface unit 160 transmits thesynchronization signals to the glasses apparatuses 200 (operationS1650). When a control command for any one content view is input(operation S1660-Y) while the plurality of the content views is output,the display apparatus 100 determines whether the control command is anexecutable operation or an execution restriction operation andselectively displays a message notifying other content views of thecontrol command if the control command is execution restrictionoperation or controls the display apparatus according to the controlcommand if the control command is an executable operation (operationS1670).

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a controlling method of a display apparatus100 according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring to FIG. 17, thereceivers 110 of the display apparatus 100 receive a plurality ofcontents (operation S1705), and the signal processors 120 generate theimage frames by processing the content (operation S1710). The displayunit 130 outputs the plurality of the content views by combining theimage frames of the content (operation S1715), and the synchronizationsignal generator 150 generates the synchronization signals tosynchronize the content views and the glasses apparatuses 200 (operationS1720). The interface unit 160 transmits the synchronization signals tothe glasses apparatuses 200 (operation S1725). When a control commandfor any one content view is input (operation S1730-Y) while theplurality of the content views is output, the display apparatus 100determines whether the control command is the executable operation. Upondetermining the executable operation (operation S1735-Y), the displayapparatus 100 executes the operation corresponding to the controlcommand (operation S1737). When determining the execution restrictionoperation (operation S1735-Y), the display apparatus 100 displays themessage notifying the control command input in the other content view(operation S1740). When the agreement signal for the executionrestriction operation is received from the glasses apparatus 200 matchedto the other content view (operation S1745-Y) or when the agreementsignal is not received and no signal is received for a predeterminedperiod of time (operation S1755-Y), the display apparatus 100 executesthe operation corresponding to the control command similarly to theexecutable operation (operation S1737). By contrast, upon receiving thedisagreement signal (operation S1750-Y), the display apparatus 100 doesnot conduct the operation corresponding to the control command.

Meanwhile, when the predefined event is the event when at least one ofthe content views is not mapped to a glasses apparatus 200 in FIG. 15and the content views include the content view not mapped to the glassesapparatus 200, the method adds and displays the message object guidingto connect the glasses apparatus 200 in the image frame of at least onecontent view not mapped to the glasses apparatus 200.

When the predefined event is the event for inputting the multi-view modestart command and the multi-view mode start command is input, thedisplay apparatus 100 adds and displays the message object inquiringabout whether to synchronize the corresponding content in the imageframe of each content view, and sequentially maps the content to theglasses apparatuses 200. Upon receiving the response to the message fromthe at least one glasses apparatus 200 or the remote control apparatus300, the display apparatus 100 can map the content displayed when theresponse is received, and the glasses apparatus 200 sending theresponse.

When the predefined event is the event for inputting the controlauthority request command from the remote control apparatus 300 and thecontrol authority request command is input, the display apparatus 100adds and displays the image object indicating the control authority inthe image frame of one of the content. The content displaying the imageobject can sequentially change every time the control authority requestcommand is input.

When the predefined event is the event for inputting the multi-view modeend command and the multi-view mode end command is input, the displayapparatus 100 adds and displays the message object notifying themulti-view end in the image frames of all of the content.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of a controlling method of a display apparatusaccording to another exemplary embodiment. In particular, FIG. 18 is aflowchart of a controlling method of a display apparatus in the case ofan event where a glasses apparatus is connected.

A plurality of contents is received (operation S1810). Next, an imageframe is formed (operation S1820). More specifically, each of thereceived content is processed to form image frames. In addition, imageframes are combined and a plurality of content views is output(operation S1830).

Furthermore, when the glasses apparatus is connected to the displayapparatus, a synchronization signal which synchronizes one of theplurality of content views with a glasses apparatus is generated(operation S1840). Herein, generating a synchronization signal maygenerate a synchronization signal which synchronizes a glasses apparatuswith a content view which is not synchronized with any glasses apparatusof among the plurality of content views. Otherwise, in a case where acontent view includes a main content view and at least one sub contentview, a synchronization signal which synchronizes a glasses apparatuswith the main content view may be generated. Otherwise, asynchronization signal which sequentially synchronizes a glassesapparatus with a plurality of content view may be generated.

In addition, a generated synchronization signal is transmitted to aglasses apparatus (operation S1850). In a case where a synchronizationsignal which sequentially synchronizes a glasses apparatus with theplurality of content views is transmitted, when a content view selectioncommand is received from the glasses apparatus, the glasses apparatusmay be continuously be synchronized with the content view synchronizedwith the glasses apparatus at the point of receiving the selectioncommand. That is, the display apparatus 100 may sequentially transmit asynchronization signal on the plurality of content views, and when aselection command is received from the glasses apparatus 200, thedisplay apparatus 10 may continuously transmit the synchronizationsignal transmitted at the point of receiving the selection command, tothe glasses apparatus 200.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a controlling method of a remote controlapparatus 300 according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 19, the remote control apparatus 300 receives thesignals continuously generated from the glasses apparatuses 200, throughthe detection unit 310 (operation S1910), and calculates the distancesbetween the remote control apparatuses 300 and the glasses apparatuses200 by analyzing the signals (operation S1920).

The control unit 330 receives the calculated values from the detectionunit 310 and selects the glasses apparatus 200 closest to the remotecontrol apparatus 300 (operation S1930). When the user command is inputthrough the input unit 320 (operation S1940), the control unit 330generates and transmits the control command to the display apparatus 100through the interface unit 340 (operation S1950).

The display apparatus 100 receives the control command through theremote control signal receiver 170, and the controller 140 of thedisplay apparatus 100 controls the content view synchronized with theselected glasses apparatus 200 by analyzing the received control command(operation S1960).

As such, when users wearing the glasses apparatuses 200 and watchingselected content views at the same time through the display apparatus100 control their content views, each user can easily control thecontent and the audio of his/her content view simply by bring the remotecontrol apparatus 300 closer to his/her glasses apparatus 200 than theother glasses apparatuses 200 and inputting the intended controlcommand, without having to separately manipulate the mode in advance.

Meanwhile, a program for executing the methods according to variousexemplary embodiments can be stored on various recording media.

Specifically, a code for executing the methods can be stored to variousnon-volatile recording media such as flash memory, Read Only Memory,(ROM), Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM), Electronically Erasable andProgrammable ROM (EEPROM), hard disc, removable disc, memory card, USBmemory, and CD-ROM.

A polarized method according to another exemplary embodiment isdescribed below with reference to FIG. 19.

FIG. 19 depicts a content view using a glasses apparatus 200 includingpolarization lenses according to an exemplary embodiment.

While the system alternately outputs the image frames of the content andfor viewing using shutter glasses according to the above-describedexemplary embodiments, it is understood that one or more other exemplaryembodiments are not limited thereto. For example, according to anotherexemplary embodiment, a polarized system may be used for outputting andviewing the content.

In this case, the display apparatus 100 can further include apolarization member 190. The polarization member 190 can include aliquid crystal layer (not shown) for polarizing the image. The displayapparatus 100 controls the liquid crystal layer per horizontal line orvertical line using a driving voltage of different levels, and polarizesthe output content image in a particular direction. In so doing, thepolarized content images can be alternately arranged and output. Forexample, one content is polarized horizontally and output. Insuccession, another content is polarized vertically and output. Thisprocess is repeated. The users can watch the respective images, that is,the respective content views, through the glasses apparatus 200-3including horizontal polarization lenses and the glasses apparatus 200-4including vertical polarization lenses. For example, different regionsof one image frame can contain image information of different content.In this case, the regions can be polarized and output in differentdirections, and the users can watch different content views with theglasses apparatuses 200 including the lenses matched to the polarizationdirections.

At this time, the glasses apparatuses 200-11 and 200-12 used to view thedisplay apparatus 100 can include the polarization lenses matched to thepolarization direction of the content to view. Since the glassesapparatus 200 passes only the polarized images, the user can watch onlyhis/her intended content. The glasses apparatuses 200-11 and 200-12 donot need separate synchronization with the display apparatus 100,economic efficiency can be attained and flicking in the synchronizationcan be reduced. In FIG. 20, when the images of the content polarizedhorizontally and vertically are alternately displayed, the glassesapparatuses 200-11 and 200-12 including the corresponding polarizationlenses watch the content views.

When the control command for the content view is processed through thepolarized display apparatus 100 and glasses apparatus 200, the controlcommand for the content view is output as the image frame of thepolarized content. For example, when the control command relates to theexecution restriction operation, the message notifying the controlcommand input is polarized in the same manner as the other content imageframe and displayed together with the other content view image. Next,the user wearing the glasses apparatus 200 matched to the other contentview can input the response for agreeing or disagreeing about thecontrol command to thus control the display apparatus 100.

While the above-described exemplary embodiments relate to a displayapparatus 100 including a display unit 130, it is understood that otherexemplary embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, otherexemplary embodiments may be applicable to an image processing apparatussuch as a set-top box, a stand-alone control device, an audio/videoreceiver, an optical media player, an image source, etc. Furthermore, itis understood that in exemplary embodiments, one or more units of theabove-described apparatuses 100, 200, 300 can include a processor ormicroprocessor executing a computer program stored in acomputer-readable medium.

Although a few exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, itwill be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be madein these exemplary embodiments without departing from the principles andspirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is definedin the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display apparatus comprising: a display unitwhich outputs a plurality of content views using a plurality of imageframes; an interface which is connected with a glasses apparatusaccording to a predetermined communication standard; a synchronizationsignal generator which generates a synchronization signal thatsynchronizes one of the plurality of content views with the glassesapparatus; and a controller which, when a glasses apparatus is connectedto the interface, controls the display apparatus to synchronize the oneof the plurality of content views with the glasses apparatus.
 2. Thedisplay apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a receiverwhich receives a plurality of contents; and a signal processor whichprocesses each of the plurality of contents and forms a plurality ofimage frames.
 3. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thecontroller controls the display apparatus to synchronize the glassesapparatus with a content view not synchronized with another glassesapparatus from among the plurality of content views, when the glassesapparatus is connected to the interface.
 4. The display apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the displayapparatus to display an object which indicates that a content view isnot synchronized with any glasses apparatus to the glasses apparatus,when it is determined that there exists a content view not synchronizedwith a glasses apparatus from among the plurality of content views. 5.The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality ofcontent views comprise a main content view and at least one sub contentview, and the controller controls the display apparatus to synchronizethe glasses apparatus with the main content view, when the glassesapparatus is connected to the interface.
 6. The display apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein, when the glasses apparatus is connectedto the interface, the controller controls the display apparatus tosequentially synchronize the glasses apparatus with each of theplurality of content views, and when a content view selection command isreceived from the glasses apparatus, controls the display apparatus tocontinuously synchronize the glasses apparatus with a content view,synchronized with the glasses apparatus at a point where the selectioncommand is received, from among the plurality of content views.
 7. Acontrolling method of a display apparatus, the method comprising:outputting a plurality of content views using a plurality of imageframes; generating, when a glasses apparatus is connected to the displayapparatus, a synchronization signal which synchronizes one of theplurality of content views with the glasses apparatus; and transmittingthe synchronization signal to the glasses apparatus.
 8. The controllingmethod according to claim 7, further comprising: receiving a pluralityof contents; and processing each of the plurality of contents andforming a plurality of image frames.
 9. The controlling method accordingto claim 7, wherein the generating a synchronization signal generates asynchronization signal which synchronizes the glasses apparatus with acontent view not synchronized with any glasses apparatus from among theplurality of content views, when the glasses apparatus is connected tothe display apparatus.
 10. The controlling method according to claim 7,further comprising displaying an object which indicates that a contentview is not synchronized with any glasses apparatus to the glassesapparatus, when it is determined that there exists a content view notsynchronized with a glasses apparatus of among the plurality of contentviews.
 11. The controlling method according to claim 7, wherein theplurality of content views comprise a main content view and at least onesub content view, and the generating a synchronization signal generatesa synchronization signal which synchronizes the glasses apparatus withthe main content view, when the glasses apparatus is connected to thedisplay apparatus.
 12. The controlling method according to claim 7,wherein the generating the synchronization signal further comprises:when the glasses apparatus is connected to the interface, sequentiallysynchronizing the glasses apparatus with each of the plurality ofcontent views, and when a content view selection command is receivedfrom the glasses apparatus, continuously synchronizing the glassesapparatus with a content view, synchronized at a point where theselection command is received, from among the plurality of contentviews.
 13. A display apparatus comprising: an interface which sends andreceives information with a glasses apparatus according to apredetermined communication standard; a synchronization signal generatorwhich generates a synchronization signal that synchronizes one of aplurality of content views with the glasses apparatus; and a controllerwhich, when a glasses apparatus is connected to the interface, controlsthe display apparatus to synchronize one of the plurality of contentviews with the glasses apparatus.
 14. The display apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein the controller controls the display apparatus tosynchronize the glasses apparatus with a content view, that is notsynchronized with another glasses apparatus, from among the plurality ofcontent views.
 15. The display apparatus according to claim 13, whereinthe controller controls the display apparatus to sequentiallysynchronize each of the plurality of content views with the glassesapparatus, and when a content view selection command is received fromthe glasses apparatus while the glasses apparatus is synchronized withone of the plurality of content views, controls the display apparatus tocontinuously synchronize the one of the plurality of content views withthe glasses apparatus.
 16. A controlling method of a display apparatus,the method comprising: connecting a glasses apparatus to the displayapparatus; generating a synchronization signal which synchronizes one ofa plurality of content views with the glasses apparatus; andtransmitting the synchronization signal to the glasses apparatus. 17.The controlling method according to claim 16, wherein the generating asynchronization signal generates a synchronization signal whichsynchronizes the glasses apparatus with a content view, that is notsynchronized with another glasses apparatus, from among the plurality ofcontent views.
 18. The controlling method according to claim 16, whereinthe generating the synchronization signal comprises: sequentiallysynchronizing each of the plurality of content views with the glassesapparatus, and when a content view selection command is received fromthe glasses apparatus while the glasses apparatus is synchronized withone of the plurality of content views, continuously synchronizing theone of the plurality of content views with the glasses apparatus.